Overview & Reviews

Chevrolet sells an impressively wide range of vehicles, from subcompact hatchbacks to huge vans and SUVs. If you're looking for a reasonably priced vehicle, odds are that Chevy will have something to fit your needs.

Chevrolet got its start in 1911. After William C. Durant had been ousted from General Motors, he joined forces with Swiss-born racecar driver Louis Chevrolet to found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. The company's first offering was the Classic Six. Introduced in 1912, this five-passenger touring sedan could top 65 mph, fast for the time. Chevrolet's storied bowtie logo -- reportedly inspired by the wallpaper of a Paris hotel room that Durant stayed at -- made its first appearance in 1914.

By 1918, Chevrolet's profitability allowed Durant to purchase enough shares in GM to regain control. Chevrolet became another division of GM, and was its largest volume division by the mid-1920s. By 1927, Chevrolet outsold rival Ford, with sales in excess of 1 million units.

In the mid-1930s Chevrolet introduced independent front suspension, which provided a smoother ride over the rough roads of the day. The 1940s saw continued success with affordable coupes, sedans and pickup trucks catering to American families, farmers and businessmen.

By the mid-1950s, Chevrolet, GM's entry-level division, had added a V8 engine, power steering and brakes, power windows and air-conditioning to its list of available features, allowing luxury for those on a tighter budget. Around this time the iconic Bel Air model -- available in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon body styles -- proved very popular. The company introduced its alluring Corvette in 1953; the vehicle was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.

The 1960s saw the unveiling of the popular, air-cooled Corvair compact, which held the distinction of being the first domestic production car with all-around independent suspension. That decade also witnessed the launch of the compact Nova, the midsize Chevelle and the sporty Camaro, the latter Chevrolet's answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. The Camaro proved an instant hit, comprising 10 percent of Chevrolet's total sales in 1967, its first year of production.

In the 1970s, Chevy responded to changing preferences by introducing small cars like the Vega and the Chevette, and by downsizing larger models such as the Caprice and Malibu. The company combated the market domination of foreign nameplates in the 1980s by rolling out the Cavalier. By the end of that decade, trucks and SUVs had started to become increasingly popular with the general consumer, and the brand's mid- and full-size models continue to this day to be some of the most popular on the road.

The '90s and the early 2000s saw the company raising the performance bar with its Corvette (notably the Z06 and, later, ZR1 variants) and reincarnated Impala SS. Chevrolet's Silverado pickup truck and Tahoe/Suburban SUVs continued to be hits as well. By 2010, the Camaro had returned to the lineup after a seven-year hiatus.

Modern times have seen Chevrolet make significant improvements in its small and midsize car models and introduce the Volt plug-in hybrid. The latter provides a nearly 40-mile range on electric power alone, and adds to the company's already well-rounded lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs. Though today's marketplace is very demanding, Chevrolet seems poised to remain a power player through its affordable and innovative vehicles.

User Reviews:

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  very powerful - 1995 Chevrolet Blazer
  By blazin212002 - February 12 - 2:00 am

  i use my blazer for my security company.If a guard needs my help im there as fast as i can. The truck is very powerful good i turns acceleration beats every other suv of the same class. Ofcourse every alt,gaspump,waterpump,and many other AC DELCO parts go bad after 100,000 miles. but look at Fords and Jeeps not even 40,000 miles the engine blows {ive had a couple new ones}.Ihave 160,000 miles!!

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  Tremendous bang for the buck! - 2005 Chevrolet Corvette
  By Erik - February 11 - 12:13 pm

  What runs with the $150k+ Italian exotics but only costs 1/3 of that? My 2005 C6! I owned a 2001 C5 Corvette before buying this new model in September, and the improvement over that already fine, fun car is impressive. A great car for a relatively small heap of cash!

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  great truck - 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe
  By skyman - February 11 - 2:00 am

  102,000 miles with only one major repair when an injector failed. Great truck, holds so much more than any suv of its time. I would highly recomend this truck.

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  Great Rig! - 1999 Chevrolet Tracker
  By HRalph - February 10 - 2:00 am

  Was looking at a Kia Sportage. However, during the test drive, found it rocked forward and back on bumps. Saw a 2dr/5sp/conv tracker on the lot and took it for a spin. No rocking there. Have had it for 3.5 years and have had no problems. Got the 1.6L and it does great on gas-27mpg-and has enough power to do what I need. Kids love the wind blowing in their faces with the top down. Driven it off-road some, but mostly as a run around car with some highway. Had to get used to the high- center in the wind. Went to motorbooks.com for the right Haynes manual as I could not find the correct manual anywhere else.

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  Get a life - 1995 Chevrolet Lumina
  By Turk42 - February 10 - 2:00 am

  Great car. Bought it 2nd hand for $10k with 43,000 miles and have put 63,000 miles on it. Have had some repairs, but because it is a chevy not too dear. The guy whining about rust and piston slap-GET A LIFE!! My car is going on 8 years and the rust is just begining to show.

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  Nice Car - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Chevy all the way - February 10 - 2:00 am

  This car is awesome. I love racing cars and i also beat my friends 2001 Mustang Bullitt. The power is amazing.

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  My Z28 Pony Killer - 2002 Chevrolet Camaro
  By MyZBeatDaCHP - February 10 - 2:00 am

  I special ordered my 2002 Z28 M6 with the Hurst SShifter, and never looked back. What an automobile. Ponys cant beat my acceleration. Ponys cant outmanuver my curves. Ponys cant match my topspeed. Any questions?

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  super fun - 1997 Chevrolet S-10
  By mikes97 - February 9 - 2:00 am

  this truck us super fun to own service and drive. the cab is a little small for three people but well designed.

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  Tale of two milages before $ after 55000 - 1998 Chevrolet Malibu
  By lparsel - February 9 - 2:00 am

  This was a wonderful car to own and drive for the first 55000 miles. I do mostly hiway miles and the car was confortable and alway 30 per gal. Then I started using the car around town. The brakes wore out in 12-15 k miles. The intake manifold gasket leaked. The ignition switch broke. Windshield wipers broke and were recalled. The brakes are just not the right size for this car. They wearout to offten.

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  Leaks more oil than Exxon Valdez - 1996 Chevrolet Blazer
  By Waterdog - February 9 - 2:00 am

  I love this vehicle, but I cant get it to stop leaking oil. Changed the oil lines, sent to the dealer twice. Still leaks oil from somewhere. If it wasnt for that, it would be perfect.